Apparatus for separating cemented well casings



R. w. EDENS AND s; E. CLEVER. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELLCASINGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJ. 920.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

3 SHEEIS-SHEEY l.'

INVENTOR.

R. W. EDENS AND S. E. CLEVER APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELLCASINGS.

APPLICAIIUN HLED SEP'LT. I920.

Patented Aug.

3 SHEEYS-SHEET 2.

IN V EN TOR.

Sela/11,4 fiwe/r/ a- WM R. w. EDENS AND S. E. CLEVER.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELL CASINGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. EDENS AND SIMON EDWARD CLEVER, 0F FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CEMENTED WELL CASINGS.

S ecification of letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

Application filedseptembcr 7, 1920. Serial No. 408,601.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT W. Beans and SIMON EDWARD CLEvnR, citizensof the United States, residing at Fullerton, in the county of Orange andState of California, have invented a new and useful Apparatus forSeparating Cemented Well Casings, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating cemented wellcasings and has for its object to provide a means by which said. casingsmay be separated without injury thereto so that they may be subsequentlyutilized.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for separating cemented wellcasings which consists of boring the cement from between the walls ofthe casings.

Another object is to provide a rotatable tubular boring toollongitudinally fed between the casings in a boring operation, and toprovide means for automatically arresting said longitudinal feed.

Another object is to provide a quick return for the tool and to providemeans for lubricating the cuttin edge thereof and to flush the boringsfrom the casing.

Various other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent fromthe following description of the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this disclosure, and which illustrate a preferred form ofembodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure l a top plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line [B 50 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal central vertical section on line of Fig. 1.

Figure .lis a detail section on line m rc of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a plan section on line m m of Fig. 4.

Figure 12 is a vertical section on line m' a2 of Fig. 3; and I Figure 13is an enlarged fragmentary section of a detachable cutting sleeve forthe tool.

In the drilling of oil Wells water strata are quite frequentlyencountered and as the laws governing the drilling of oil wells requirethat these water strata be blocked off before drilling is continueditbecomes necessary to cement the well.

The usual method of cementing a well is to drive the outer casing, forinstance a twelve inch casing, part way through the water strata andthen insert a smaller casing, say a ten inch casing, inside the outercasing, and also driving said inner casing part way through the waterstrata. A mixture of cement is then forced down the inner casing, andlaterally into the water strata and upwardly between the two casingscementing the casings together and forming a substantial block of cementin the water strata. After this cement is hardened the drilling of thewell may be continued through the inner casing, the water strata havingbeen completely blocked off.

After these cemented casings have been withdrawn from a well they are ofno further use unless separated and as such casings are of considerablevalue it will be evident that a method by which they can be separatedwithout injury is very desirable.

The herein described apparatus accomplished this result for the firsttime in a manner which leaves the casings in asperfeet a condition asbefore separation, and which is entirely Within reasonable cost limits.

Other methods which may suggest themselves, such as the utilization ofacids or of heat to disintegrate the cement, are obviously impracticalas the action of these elements are detrimental to the casings and wouldleave them unfit for immediate use.

In general terms, the apparatus illustrated in the drawings provides atubular boring tool A having a toothed forward end and rotatablyjournaled at its rear end in a longitudinally slidably tool carriage Bwhich is translated, by suitable mechanism, along parallel tracks CCwhich are a part of the stationary framework of the machine. Gearconnections between the tool chuck and a constantly rotating shaft Dprovides a rotary drive for the tool and there is provided a stopmechanism to stop the feed of the tool at a predetermined point in itsforward travel and other devices providing a quick return feed, and toprovide for entraining lubricating and flushing fluid to the workingend'of the tool.

Describing more in detail, the framework of the apparatus comprises aforward trans verse frame structure E which provides a support for theforward ends of the tool A and the shaft D, a rear transverse framestructure F supporting the drive and control. mechanism, and anintermediate frame structure G supporting a main drive shaft H. Theseframe structures are preferably formed of standard angle iron andsuitable reinforcing plates and are adapted to rest on suitable basebeams or on a floor. The for ward frame structure E provides fourvertical legs 1, a table plate 2 supported on transverse angle beams 23,opposed transverse angle beams 4t oined to legs 1 below the table plate,and horizontal bearing supporting plates 5 joined to the beams 4. Theintermediate frame structure G provides four vertical legs 6 and twoshorter legs 7, the legs being joined together and maintained rigidly inspaced relation by transverse angle beams 8 and horizontal bearingsupporting plates 9-1011 connecting said beams. The rear frame structureF likewise provides four vertical, legs 12, table plates i3-1stsupported ontransverse angle beams 15, opposed angle beams 16 oined tothe legs 12 below the table plates, and horizontal bearing supportingplates 171819--20 joined to the beams 16.

The parallel tracks CC are respectively positioned 011 opposite sides ofthe longitudinal center of the machine and are sup ported upon the upperends of the vertical legs 1-6-12 of the frame structures E-J'?" and Frespectively. Each track consists of an angle beam 21 supporting threesuperposed plates having finished surfaces (see Fig. 2) the center plate22 being narrower than the adjacent plates 23-23, providing anintermediate groove 24. In securing the plates to the angle beams 21,the plate 22 is first riveted to the lower plate 23 and said lower plate23 is then riveted to the beam 21. the upper plate being then attachedby halts so that it may be removed if necessary.

The tool OfLI'IltLQjS B comprises a main bod v 25 having secured atopposite sides thereof. laterally projecting horizontal plates 2- eachplate engaging within a respective groove 24 of the parallel tracks C inabutting engagementwith the narrow plate 22 there of which serves as thebase of the groove and maintains the carriage against transversemovement. The upper surface of the be i, 25 is formed to provide a lowerhalf-bearing 27 receiving a chuck body 28 which has formed on itsforward end a chuck gear and on its rear end a flange 30. An upperhalf-bearing cap 81 is secured on the body 25, the flange 30 engages thebody and cap to retain the chuck against forward movement relative tothe carriage and the face of the gear 29 prevents a rearward movement ofthe chuck in the carriage by engaging against a thrust washer 32 whichin turn engages the body 25 and cap 31. The inner wall of the chuck body28 has a tapered portion 33 with which cooperates a pair of semicircularchuck jaws 34 having similarly tapered peripheral surfaces and radiallyproj ecting annular flanges 85. Said flanges have series of elongatedradial slots to receive companion bolts 36 projecting longitudinallyfrom the face of the chuck gear 29 and en gaged by clamp nuts 37operable to translate the chuck jaws to clampingly grip the tool A. Thismechanism provides a cone chuck rotatably journaled in the carriage andretained against longitudinal movement relative thereto and it alsoprovides a chuck adapted to grip tools of different diameters. If it isdesired to use a tool smaller than the minimum clamping limit of acertain set of chuck jaws said set can be removed and a other set ofsmaller internal bore can be substituted.

The forward end of the tool is supported upon a pair of longitudinallydisposed rollers 38 journaled in journal boxes 39 which are secured uponthe table plate 2 of the frame structure E and has its forward edge outto provide cutting teeth 6.

The shaft D from which motion is derived for rotating the tool, isjournaled in journal boxes 4041 secured respectively on the table plates2 and 13 of the frame structures E and F, and has a longitudinal key way(Z. A gear pinion 42 meshes with the chuck gear 29 and is splined to theshaft l) to rotate therewith and to slide longitudinally thereof, thepinion 42 being journaled in a lower half-bearing 13 in the carriagebody 25 and in a bearing cap 'iet secured there o and retained againstendwise movement within said hearing by a flange 1-5 and the toothedportion of the pinion.

A beveled pinion 4:7 secured to the rear end of the shaft 1) meshes witha companion beveled pinion 418 secured to one end of a transmissionshaft 49. said shaft 49 being journaled in journal boxes 50-51 securedupon the table plates 13-14 respectively of the rear frame structure F.A beltpulley 52 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 19 and connectsby a belt 53 with a pulley on the main drive shaft H to complete thetool drive.

Before describing the carriage feed it will be stated that the maindrive shaft H is journaled in journal boxes 5556--57 secured upon theplates 9-10-ll respectively. of the intermediate frame structure G, andhas fixed thereto the pulley 54, pulleys 5S and 59 and a main drivepulley 60 which is in driving connection with any suitable source ofpower, such as an electric motor or a gas or oil engine.

Positioned below the table plates of the rear frame structure F is adifferential drive mechanism which comprises opposed horizontallyaligned shafts 62-63, the shaft 62 being journaled in journal boxes64l.65 mounted respectively on the plates 1T18, and the shaft 63 beingjournaled in journal boxes 66-67 mounted respectively on the plates19--20. The shaft 62 has fixed to its outer end a belt pulley 68 and theshaft 63 carries at its outer end a fixed pulley 69 secured to the shaftand a loose pulley 70 rotatable thereon. The differential gear mechanismoperatively connecting the inner ends of the shafts 6263 is illustratedin detail in Fig. 6, and comprises beveled pinions 71-72 keyedrespectively to the inner ends of the shafts and a plurality of floatingbeveled pinions 73 meshing with the pinions 71-72, the pinions beingenclosed within a gear housing which comprises opposed sections 74-75loosely journaled upon the hubs of the pinions 71-72 and an intermediateannular chain wheel or sprocket rim 7 6 all bolted together by bolts 77to form an integral housing and constituting the intermediate member ofthe differential mechanism. Any desired number of the gears 73 may beprovided and mounted for independent rotation within thehousing, in thedrawings, two being shown, each loosely journaled upon opposite ends ofa transverse stud shaft '78 carried by the housing.

Referring particularly to Figs. 23-47%), 80 designates a chain wheel orsprocket mounted upon a shaft 81 journaled in opposed journal boxes82sup'ported upon the plates 5 of the forward frame structure E, and 83designates a lug projecting downwardly from the tool carriage body 25.Pivoted on said lug is a. link member 85 to the opposite ends of whichare connected the terminal ends of a feed chain 86. The chain is rovearound the chain Wheel rim 7 6 of the differential housing and extendsforwardly and is rove around the chain wheel 80.

The belt pulley 69 of the differential shaft 63 is driven by a belt 88connecting with the wide face pulley 58 on the main drive shaft H andthe belt pulley 68 of the differential shaft 62 is driven in reverse.direction by a belt 89 which connects with the pulley 50 on said maindrive shaft. the runs of the belt 89 being ;:rossed as indicated inFig. 1. It will of course, be understood that if the two differentialshafts 62-63 are driven in opposite directions at equal speeds, therewill be no rotation of the chain wheel 76, therefore, in the presentdevice the pulley 69 is of slightly less diameter than is the pulley 68,giving a very slow rotation to said chain wheel in the directionindicated by the a: row inl ig. 3, for a lOTWIlCl feed of tie toolcarriage It s of course, obvious that instead of the 1 ulley 69 beingsmaller than the pul e3: 68, these pulleys may be of equal diameter andthe main shaft pulley; 58 -59 may be of different relative diameters.

It is desirable that the tool can stopped at predetermined points in itsforward travel and for this pure c there is provided an automatic beltshilling device associated with the pulleys 69-70, Said devicecomprising a square rod 90, (see Figs. 31O12) which is slidably mountedin brackets '9l 92 attached to the forward legs 12 of therear framestructure i and in a bracket 93 attached to a plate 9 1 as a part ofsaid structure and having an aperture through which the lower run of thechain passes, the rod l'iaving upwardly projecting fingers 95 secured toits outer end and. spaced apart to en; ge the opp site edges of the belt88. A. spring 96 surrounding the rod 90 between toe bracket and, theinner finger 95 and exerts its tension to translate the rod outwardly toshift the be t 88 to the loose pulley 70 when the rod is released. Tothrow in the carriage feed the rod 90 is translated inwardly ai'nillatched in inner position until automatically released, the meansprovided for translating the rod 90 inwardly consisting of a hand lever97 attached to a rock shaft 98 Which is journaled in bearings 99 in theframe structure and has attached to its inner end an arm 100 enatransverse pin 101 projecting lat-' erally from the rod, and the meansfor latching the rod in inner position consisting of a latch 102 pivotedonthe bracket 93, a spring 103 tending to maintain the lower end ofsaid, latch in engagement within a notch 90 cut in the side of the rod90, when the rod is in inner position. The upper end of the latch 102 isbifurcated to extend on opposite sides of the feed chain 86 andthere isprovided a trip block 104 which is adapted'to be removably attached tothe lower run of the chain 86 in a position relatively coincident to theselective length of feed to be imparted. to the tool carriage. S d tripblock preferably has medial orifice through which the chain passes and atrans verse pin 105 which passes through a link of the chain to maintainthe block in set position.

In throwing in the carriage feed, the hand lever 97 rocks the shaft totrans late the rod 90 inwardly and shifts the belt- 88 to engage anddrive the belt pulley 69, and the latch 102 engaging into the notch inthe rod maintains said rod in inner position. The trip block 10st beingpreviously set in accordance with the desired length of carriage feed,will travel rcarwardly as the carriage is fed forwardly and upon.reaching the latch will engage its upper bifurcated end and disengageits lower end from the notch in the belt shift rod 90, whereupon, thespring 96 automatically translates the rod outwardly and shifts the belt88 to the loose pulley 70. When the belt 88 is so shifted thedifferential shaft 63 and connected parts become idling elements and nofurther rotative motion will be transmitted to the chain wheel 76. Thismechanism provides automatic stop means for disabling the carriage feedat selective points in the forward travel of the carriage and means formanually throwing in the carriage feed and conditioning the stop forsubsequent operation.

To provide for a quick return travel of the tool carriage I provide amanually operated brake means for gripping the differential shaft 63 tohold the differential pinion 72 stationary so that the pinion 71 willdrive the'pinions 7 3 around said stationary pinion 7 2, carrying withthem the differential housing and chain wheel 76 in reverse rotation atan increased speed. Said brake mechanism comprises a brake drum 110secured to the shaft 63 and engaged by a brake band 111 extending aroundsaid drum and actuated by a brake lever 112, the brake lever beingpivoted at 118 on the frame structure F and the brake band beingattached at one end to the lower end of said lever and at the other endof the pivot stud 113 or to the frame, a spring 114 normally maintainingsaid lever in releasing position: Wh n the outer end of the lever 112 isdepressed the brake band 111 will grip the periphery of the brake drumand hold the shaft 6?) and connected parts stationary providing a quickreturn carriage drive as above explained.

The boring tool A may be formed of a length of Well casing one end ofwhich is notched to provide the teeth 6, or if desired the casing may bethreaded and a steel shoe 115 screwed thereon, said shoe having teeth116 out in its outer edge. (See Fig. 13).

To provide for entraining lubricating and flushing fluid, such as water,to the cutting zone, a conduit 117 is mounted upon the carriage andextends into the rear end of the tool, the opposite end being connected.by a flexible conduit 118 with asource of supply. To prevent said fluidflowing out the rear end of the tool there is provided a bushing forcedinto the end of the tool and secured in a suitable vice or likestructure and positioned in axial alignment with the boring tool, therotation of the main drive shaft H will cause the tool A to be driven bythe belt 53 shaft 419 and shaft D and the belt 89 will rotate thedifferential shaft 62 on the one side, the opposite differential shaft63 idling without causing a rotation of the carriage feed chain wheel76. The trip block 104 having been positioned on the chain 86 coincidentto the desired length of the tool feed, the hand lever 97 is shifted tothe left (Fig. 7) to translate the belt shift rod 90 inwardly to shiftthe belt 88 from the loose pulley to the differential drive pulley 69and when so shifted the notch in the rod 90 will be positioned inalignment. with the trip latch 102so that said latch will engage thereinand maintain the rod in o perated position against the tension of thespring 96. This shifting of the belt 88 re sults in both differentialshafts 6263 being driven in reverse directions at slightly varyingspeeds, producing a forward feed of the carriage and as said carriagetravels forwardly the trip block 1041 is carried rearwardl so that uponreaching the tr'p latch 102 it will rock said latch out of engagementwith the notch in the belt shift rod 90 and said rod will be shiftedoutwardly by its spring 96 and stop the carriage feed as aboveexplained. During the forward travel of the carriage the lubricating andflushing fluid will be turned on to lubricate the tool and flush awaythe borings. If the operator now wishes to retract the tool he depressesthe brake lever 112 to hold the differential shaft 63 against rotationto provide a quick return of the carriage as pre viously explained.

We claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable on the frame, a tubular tool rotatable on thecarriage, means for rotating the tool, means for translating thecarriage, and means associated with the carriage and adapted to renderthe carriage translating means ineffective when said carriage reachesthe end of its ope ating stroke.

2. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable on the frame, a tubular tool rotatable on the:arriage, means for rotating the tool, means for translating thecarriage, selectively positioned means associated with the carriage andadapted to render the carriage translating means ineffective when saidcarriage reaches the end of its operating stroke, and means providing aquick return translation of the carriage.

3. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carriage, meansfor rotatipg the tool,,a differential gear mechanism having opposeddifferential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member, meansconnecting said. intermediate member to the carriage, means driving thedifferential shafts at relatively. different speeds in oppositedirections to r0- tate the intermediate member for translating thecarriage.

Al. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carriage, meansfor rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposeddifferential shafts and an intermediate coopcrating member, meansconnecting said intermediate member to the carriage, means driving thedifferential shafts at relatively different speeds in oppositedirections to rotate the intermediate member for translating thecarriage, and means functioning to disconnect the drive from one shaftto discontinue the rotation of the intermediate member.

5. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carriage, meansfor rotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposeddifferential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member, meansconnecting said intermediate member to the carriage, driving means foreach shaft for driving said shafts at relatively different speeds inopposite directions to rotate the intermediate member, means fordisconnecting the drive from one of the differential shafts permittingits idle rotation by the opposed shaft and discontinuing the rotation ofthe intermediate member, and means for arresting the idle rotation ofthe one shaft to cause a quick reverse rotation of the intermediatemember.

6. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable on the frame, a tool rotatable on the carri age, meansfor rotating the tool, translating means for the carriage,a control.device for the translating means manually operated to cause thetransmitting means to translate the carriage in one direction andautomaticall v normalized to render the transmitting means ineffective,retaining means releasably maintaining the control device in conditionfor automatic operation, and means associated With the carriage to tripthe retaining means.

7. An apparatus of the class described. combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means forrotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposeddifferential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member, meansconnecting said intermediate member to the carriage, drive means for oneshaft, drive means for the opposite shaft, said drive means rotating theshafts in opposite directions at relatively different speeds to rotatethe intermediate member in one direction, means controlled by themovement of the carriage for disconnecting one drive means permittingits associated shaft to rotate idly and the intermediate member toremain stationary, and means for arresting the idle rotation of saidshaft to cause a quick reverse rotation of the intermediate member.

8. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, tool carriageslidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means for rotatingthe tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposed differentialshafts and an intermediate cooperating member having a chain sprocket, achain sprocket journaled at the forward end of the frame, a chainattached to the carirage and rove around both sprockets, and drivingmeans for each shaft driving said shafts in opposite directions atrelative different speeds to cause a rotation of the intermediatemember.

9. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means forrotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposeddifferential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member having achain sprocket, a chain sprocket iournaled at the forward end of theframe, a chain attached to the carriage and rove around both sprockets,driving means for each shaft driving said shafts in opposite directionsat relative different speeds to cause a rotation of the intermediatemember. and means for disconnecting one of said driving means todiscontinue the rotation of the intermediate member.

1o. An apparatus of the class described combining a frame, a toolcarriage slidable thereon, a tool rotatable on the carriage, means forrotating the tool, a differential gear mechanism having opposeddifferential shafts and an intermediate cooperating member having achain sprocket, a chain sprocket journaled at the forward end of theframe, a chain attached to the carriage and rove around both sprockets,driving means fo each shaft driving said shafts in opposite directionsat relative different speeds to cause a rotation of the intermediatemember, means for disconnecting one of said driving means to permit itscompanion shaft to rotate idly and discontinue the rotation of theintermediate member, and means for arresting said idlv rotating shaft tocause a reverse rotation of the intermediate member.

Signed at Fullerton, California, this 30 day of Aug, 1920.

ROBERT WV. EDENS. SIMON EDWARD CLEVER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT LAUNER, RUTH ADAMS.

